Menu

China Car History: the Yunque GHK7070

Published on November 12, 2012 by Tycho de Feijter

Subaru cancelled plans to secure a new joint venture in China because it sadly seems unlikely they will ever succeed. Subaru did make cars in China from 1989 until 2005 with the Yungque-Subaru joint venture, Chinese partner was the military-airplane maker Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation (GAIC). The joint venture made the Yunque GHK7071-series based on the Subaru Rex and this Yunqu GHK7070-series based on the Subaru Vivio.

Production started in 1995 and lasted until 2003. The GHK7070 was much less a success than the GHK7071 which at one moment even made it to dealers in the capital Beijing, where I almost bought one, ten years ago. The GHK7070 however was mostly sold in its home-province Guizhou and surrounding areas, it didn’t reach the big cities on the east coast. Only some 12.000 cars were made in 8 years, in 2003 just 1296 GHK7070’s were sold and Subaru pulled the plug.

The Yungque GHK7070 was powered by the same 0.658 liter 4-cylinder that powered the Subaru Vivio. Power: 40hp and 53nm. Top speed: 138km/h. 0-100: 21 seconds. The 7070 was only available with front-wheel drive, where the Vivio could also be had with four-wheel drive. Transmission was a 5-speed manual. Size: 3295/1395/1375, wheelbase was 2310.

Blue GHK7070 likely a more expensive version with sporty alloys and bumpers in the same color as the body. The most basic GHK7070 was priced at 42.000 yuan (1998), and that made the 7070 one of the cheapest vehicles on the Chinese auto market at the time.

Things didn’t work out because of the continues infighting between Subaru and GAIC. They were at war on investments, which cars to make, who got what, where to sell; well, you name it. The China-made cars furthermore didn’t meet Subaru’s quality norms and the Japanse were unable to force a change. The joint venture completely died in 2005 when Subaru simply walked out. I guess some at Subaru feel very sorry for that decision now…

Most Yungque GHK7070’s have long disappeared, left to rot on the side of the road or killed by the crusher. Some people however love their little Yunque, this nicely modified example lives somewhere near Guangzhou.

Share this:

1 comment

Subaru needn’t have regrets about the decision to withdraw since this was a losing proposition from the start, and AVI China (GAIC’s parent) ended up divesting itself of all its automaking interests in 2009. Successor Zhejiang Youngman also had no luck with this plant location, as its planned venture with Iran Khodro went no where. Subaru would have been better off signing on with someone up north, and closer to home, like Polarsun, Hafei,or even Shuguang. It’s too bad, as Subaru’s light weight, all-wheel-drive, technology would have been just right for China. But in view of the current nosedive in Japanese car sales, they probably see that failed venture as good fortune in the wake of bad.

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

How Google uses data when you use our partners' sites or apps

Many websites use Google technologies to improve their content and keep it free. When you visit a website that uses our advertising products (like AdSense), social products (like the +1 button), or analytics tools (Google Analytics), your web browser automatically sends certain information to Google. This includes, for example, the web address of the page that you're visiting and your IP address. We may also set cookies on your browser or read cookies that are already there.

Similarly, apps that partner with Google can send us information such as the name of the app and an identifier that helps us to determine which ads we've served to other apps on your device. If you are signed in to your Google Account, and depending on your Account settings, we may add that information to your Account, and treat it as personal information.

How we use the information sent by your browser

When you visit websites or use apps that use Google technologies, we may use the information we receive from those websites and apps to, for example:

Make ads more effective

Provide reports of ads activity to advertisers and websites hosting the ads, and to ensure payment to those website publishers

Help website and app owners using Google Analytics to understand how visitors engage with their sites or apps

Improve your Google+ experience

Detect and defend against fraud and other security risks to protect users and partners

Meet our legal duties

Improve our products

How you can control the information sent to Google

For tips and advice on staying safe and managing your data online, visit the Google Safety Center.
Here are some of the ways you can control the information that is shared by your web browser when you visit or interact with Google services on partners' sites across the web:

Ads Settings helps you control the ads by Google that you see across the web. You can learn how ads are selected for you, opt out of Ads Personalization, and block specific advertisers. Learn more about advertising.

If you are signed in to your Google Account, and depending on your Account settings, you can see and edit some of the information we collect from the sites and apps you have visited.

Many sites across the web use Google Analytics to understand how visitors engage with their sites or apps. If you don’t want Analytics to be used in your browser, you can install the Google Analytics browser add-on. Learn more about Google Analytics and privacy.

Google makes it easy for you to make recommendations for your friends - for example, by clicking the +1 button on content you like. Some of your +1s may show your name and Google+ profile photo in ads, but you can opt out if you don't want to appear in ads. You can also visit the +1 tab on your Google+ profile to review and manage all of your +1's. Learn more about how to get to your +1 tab.

Incognito mode in Chrome allows you to browse the web without recording webpages and files in your browser history. Cookies are deleted after you've closed all of your incognito windows and tabs, and your bookmarks and settings are stored until you delete them. Learn more about cookies.